The cure rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) currently exceeds 80 percent, leaving young survivors with 60+ potential years of life. However, these young patients face major hurdles: 1) initial responses to the disease and to treatment include peripheral neuropathy;myopathy;decreased strength, range of motion, and gross and fine motor function;reduced energy expenditure, fitness, bone mineral content, and bone density;and decreased health-related quality of life (HRQL);2) long-term effects of therapy include persistent fatigue;decreased physical function/fitness;decreased HRQL;obesity;and significant risk of premature chronic illnesses (e.g., diabetes, osteonecrosis, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease). Patients'muscle strength, endurance, bone density, and HRQL have been improved by short-term physical activity interventions initiated late in treatment, after function has diminished. We propose to inititate an intervention 7-10 days after medical therapy begins and extend it through 2.5 years of treatment. This will be the first such multidisciplinary, randomized, longitudinal trial of a tailored, parent- and child-focused physical activity program for children (ages 5-18.99 years) with newly diagnosed ALL and will test the ability of the intervention to prevent or diminish early physical function limitations and improve HRQL. Secondary aims will evaluate the mediating effects of motivation and affect and the moderating effects of gender, age, income, and parent education. Through 3 post-baseline assessments 8 weeks, 15 weeks, and 135 weeks after the start of chemotherapy, the intervention will be tested for its effect on: 1) physical function outcomes (muscle strength, range of motion, endurance, gross motor skills), bone density and bone mineral content (135 weeks only);and 2) HRQL. This multi-site trial will test the intervention in 208 children with ALL (104 receiving the intervention and 104 receiving a placebo """"""""minimal movement"""""""" standard care strategy). The knowledge generated by this study has the potential to 1) immediately improve current clinical practices for children with ALL, thereby easing their transition through therapy;2) provide an effective strategy, based in motivation, that will support life-long behavior changes to minimize late effects of ALL therapy;and 3) extend the intervention to other childhood cancers and to other health risk and health protective behaviors that have the potential to modify late effects of childhood cancer therapy. Public Health Relevance: During chemotherapy, children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia experience decreased strength, range of motion, energy, bone mineral density (BMD)/bone mineral content (BMC), and reduced quality of life. This application will test a motivation-based physical activity intervention targeting patients and their families, begun within 10 days after therapy begins, that has the potential to: prevent or diminish these early physical limitations, maintain or increase BMD/BMC, and improve quality of life for these young patients.

Public Health Relevance

STATEMENT During chemotherapy, children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia experience decreased strength, range of motion, energy, bone mineral density (BMD)/bone mineral content (BMC), and reduced quality of life. This application will test a motivation-based physical activity intervention targeting patients and their families, begun within 10 days after therapy begins, that has the potential to: prevent or diminish these early physical limitations, maintain or increase BMD/BMC, and improve quality of life for these young patients.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01CA129384-01A2
Application #
7656983
Study Section
Nursing Science: Children and Families Study Section (NSCF)
Program Officer
O'Mara, Ann M
Project Start
2009-08-12
Project End
2014-05-31
Budget Start
2009-08-12
Budget End
2010-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$1,023,985
Indirect Cost
Name
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
067717892
City
Memphis
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
38105
Cox, Cheryl L; Zhu, Liang; Kaste, Sue C et al. (2018) Modifying bone mineral density, physical function, and quality of life in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pediatr Blood Cancer 65:
Ness, Kirsten K; Kaste, Sue C; Zhu, Liang et al. (2015) Skeletal, neuromuscular and fitness impairments among children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 56:1004-11